A taxonomy of patients with type 2 diabetes based on their illness representations was developed. To do this a cluster analysis was conducted, using the responses of a convenience sample of 103 adults from primary health care in central Chile, who completed the IPQ-R scale. This analysis lead to 3 groups of patients labeled Preoccupied, Hopeless, and Deniers. The first relies on procedures to mitigate the effects of the disease. The second shows a low belief about the possibility to control the disease. The third does not consider diabetes as a chronic disease. The groups were compared on emotional response, intention to adhere, perception of need and concern about the treatment, to complement the cluster analysis procedure, using ANOVA or chi-square. Consistent with their profiles, the groups present significant differences in their emotional response, beliefs about medications, intention to adhere, treatment time, age, and education. The utility of these taxonomies for differential treatment of patients is discussed.